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Seven years of Articles Club

28 October 2022

Friends, I feel like I left you hanging! Though I knew it would take me a bit to get part two ready for you (here’s part one – don’t miss the comments, they’re so wonderful!), I didn’t expect it to take quite this long – but alas, the flu struck our house last week and took me down with it. I tested positive on Monday and was completely down for the count as I haven’t been for YEARS for two days, and have been struggling back since then. Please take it from this gal who gets a flu shot every year but just hadn’t found time to make an appointment yet – get yours this weekend!! It’s nasty out there, friends. (June’s class had ELEVEN kids home sick one day this week! Out of 17!!)

So though I haven’t had the upright hours and presence of mind to finish the next part of our conversation on working part-time, I do have a round-up of the past year of Articles Club to share with you today! If you’re newer here, Articles Club is a great love of my life. A dear friend and I started it seven years ago (think: a book club, but with three themed articles, discussed over a potluck dinner each month) and it has been meeting and snowballing in delight ever since. Here is a bit more about how the group has grown closer over time, and here is a bit more about why it’s so special.

I know you are all kindred spirits who also enjoy reading interesting thoughts and having thoughtful discussions, so each year I post several of our monthly article groupings so you can enjoy them yourselves or take them back to your people! I’ve done that below.

The Cost of Beauty
The Art of Botox (NYT)
The Best Skincare Trick is Being Rich

Memory
The Memories We Keep
Your Memories Make You Who You Are
The First Baby Blogs, Over 100 Years Ago

Poetry
How Instagram Saved Poetry
Does Poetry Matter?
Understanding Trauma: the Healing Process of Poetry
Kate Baer is Speaking Truth. From her Minivan. (NYT)

Going Green
What is the Difference Between Going Green and Sustainability?
How I Deal with the Unbearable Hypocrisy of Being an Environmentalist
Is Recycling Really Worth It?
You’ll Never Truly Get Organized Until You Buy Less Stuff

Hormones and Things
The Female Problem: How Male Bias in Medical Trials Ruined Women’s Health
Get to Know Your Infradian Rhythm to Optimize Your Body’s Cycles
Changing the Concept of “Woman” Will Cause Unintended Harms
Favorite Products and Tips for Hormone Health

Duty and Happiness in Light of the Queen’s Jubilee
Meghan and Harry Overplayed Their Hand
There are Two Kinds of Happy People

Travel
What Travel Can, and Cannot, Teach Us
Air Travel is a Disaster Right Now. Here’s Why.
Every Day is a Saturday for the Bucket List Family

Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is the Original Influencer
The Promises Martha Stewart Made, and Why We Wanted to Believe Them (by Joan Didion!)
Martha Stewart, Blissed Out on CBD, is Doing Just Fine (NYT)
Also highly recommend this You’re Wrong About episode!

Quiet Quitting
Quiet Quitting Isn’t Really About Quitting. Here Are the Signs.
The Backlash Against Quiet Quitting is Getting Loud
Arianna Huffington’s Joyfully Joining response

In honor of our anniversary and in lieu of articles, this month we each prepared “pro tips” to share around the table a la this Cup of Jo post with a truly epic comment section. What’s a pro tip, you ask? It’s a fuzzy combination of life hack, life motto, insider knowledge, and received wisdom. The ones shared by our group ranged from the mundane and practical to the emotional and hard-won, and I thought it might be fun to share a few of mine to finish out this post:

— Organize your grocery list by the layout of the store. This might save you years over a lifetime of shopping.
— Lower your expectations, all the time, in all things (okay, most things). It leaves more room to be delighted.
— Reflect, celebrate, and look ahead at the end of each year with someone you love.
— If you’re going to take one sip of water, take five.
— Use the Oxford comma. Weirdly controversial, but it shouldn’t be.
— Everything seems worse at night. Do not try to solve problems at 11pm, just go to bed. Also, walks solve most problems.
— A common trade-off is time for money. If you want to be a parent, as far as possible, save the money and spend the time before you have your children so you have the money to use after they arrive and time is more precious.
— Chick-fil-a cookies are always handed over warm and are absolute magic. Chocolatey, oaty, chewy, crispy, soft, how do they do it?! Related: if someone you love is having a bad day and needs a cookie, you can send them money in the app to facilitate a purchase.

Of course I would love to hear: what are a few of your pro tips? Silly, serious, prosaic, or inspired, please share below!

Articles Club through the years:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Year Four
Year Five

Year Six

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My 2022 Reading List

17 January 2022

For the last two years, I’ve pre-planned 24 books to read throughout the year – one fiction and one non-fiction each month – for my own personal book club. It’s a plan I’ve held loosely (I read 17 of my 24 picks in both 2020 and 2021), but one that’s been a bright spot. There are just so many incredible books to read (!!), and it’s nice to be thoughtful about how I’ll meander through my TBR list – carving out time for both new authors, subjects, and modes as well as old favorites.

Here’s what I have planned for 2022. I’m excited to read each one of these books, and if you’d like me to join me for any of them, I’d love to have you!

January: 
The Last Story of Mina Lee | Recommended by my friend Sam, this is the story of a Korean immigrant mother and her daughter, switching between their two perspectives decades apart, and the far-reaching impacts of the secrets they keep.
The Power of Fun | This book is brand new – it came out in December 2021! – and I’m reading it along with Janssen’s book club. For a naturally serious person who also places a high value on creating memorable and fun experiences for the people I love, reading a book about having fun sounds just about right :)

February:
The Evening and the Morning | This is the prequel to Ken Follett’s epic, beloved Kingsbridge series. The books are fat and engrossing, and I’ve savored them by reading one per year over the last few years. This installment begins in 997 CE, the beginning of the Middle Ages (fascinating!), and is supposed to be just as good as the others.
Gentle and Lowly | I’ve never really read a book focusing just on who Jesus is, but The Book of Longings, which imagines his earlier life, made me want to learn even more about him. This one, which promises to “reflect on his words, diving deep into Bible passages that speak of his affections for sinners and encouraging believers as they journey, weary and faltering, toward heaven,” comes highly recommended.

March:
Cloud Cuckoo Land | This was my friend Steph’s top pick of 2021, so it was an automatic add to this list! I loved All the Light We Cannot See by the same author and am intrigued by the premise: “Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, Anthony Doerr’s gorgeous third novel is a triumph of imagination and compassion.”
The Weekday Vegetarians
| I snagged this book late last year and though technically a cookbook, it’s packed with anecdotes, advice, and Jenny’s warm, funny writing I love so much. Looking forward to having dedicated time to page through it!

April:
Sisters in Arms | Yet another 2021 release! I’ll be reading this untold true story of the only all-black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps in World War II with Janssen.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet | I’ve never met a Shauna Niequist book I haven’t loved. This one comes out in April and I’ve preordered it.

May:
The Great Circle | My literary agent/author brother-in-law and I were chatting about this list I was compiling over the Christmas holiday, and he mentioned The Great Circle as a book he read last year he thought I’d love. Also a 2021 release, this expansive story centers on Marian, whose dream is to circumnavigate the globe by flying over the North and South Poles, and Hadley, the actress cast to play her in a movie a century later. (Looking back at this post, I realized reader Abigail recommended it, too! Yay!)
Hunt, Gather, Parent | It’s not a good year of reading if I don’t intake several parenting books (I just can’t quit them!), and this one sounds right up my alley. It’s also the May pick for Janssen’s book club, which moved it to the top of my queue.

June:
Between Two Kingdoms | This memoir was the one non-economics book Emily Oster mentioned in her newsletter last year (with effusive praise), and I was intrigued enough to add it to my list. “A searing, deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that traces one young woman’s journey from diagnosis to remission to re-entry into ‘normal’ life—from the author of the Life, Interrupted column in The New York Times.”
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion | If you’re reading this blog, I assume you’re aware of my love for The Coddling of the American Mind (I push it on anyone I can at every opportunity). This book, by one of the authors, feels ever more relevant.

July:
Crossing to Safety | This list skews heavily new (I don’t know if I’ve ever read so many recent releases!), so it’s fun to add one from the archives. This one was recommended by a friend and from the description sounds a bit like The Dearly Beloved, which I loved from last year’s list!
Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family | I’ve enjoyed listening to Ruth and her husband on several podcasts recently and am excited to read their first combined book effort. Reading this one with my bud Nancy.

August:
Piranesi | Heather raved about Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel and Piranesi on this post, and Susanna Clarke has popped up several times since then as a rec! Plus, she has a fabulous name :)
Take Back Your Family | This book has my name written all over it. I will admit I am a little ambivalent on Jeff Bethke as a podcast host/guest (he talks so fast!!) but I think his ideas are solid and so I’m willing to give him a chance on the page.

September:
A Long Petal of the Sea | Another Steph favorite! “One of the most richly imagined portrayals of the Spanish Civil War to date,” says the NY Times Book Review, “and one of the strongest and most affecting works in Isabel Allende’s long career.”
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee | Shauna Niequist highly recommended this parenting book on her episode of the Coffee & Crumbs podcast, and I always think it’s interesting to read what’s influenced the people influencing you.

October:
The Rose Code | I’m currently number 659 on the holds list for this at my local library, so maybe it will be available by the time October rolls around?
A Testament of Hope | At 736 pages, this compendium of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches, writings, interviews, and reflections will be a feat to finish, but I’m up for the challenge. Dr. King seems to be a person that every agenda likes to twist to fit their own narrative, and so I’m looking forward to diving into his actual words!

November:
The Snow Child | Based on the description, I’m not really sure what to expect from this Pulitzer Prize finalist, but it sounds appropriate to read as the weather gets colder.
The Art of Gathering | A final read with Janssen’s book club!

December:
The Four Winds | Though I’ve loved Kristin Hannah’s other books (The Great Alone, The Nightingale), and despite it being the best-selling hardcover novel the year it released, I didn’t rush to read The Four Winds because I’d heard mixed reviews (mainly that it was depressing?). When Nancy put it on her list, though, it seemed like the time to jump in.
Four Thousand Weeks | Based on the premise that the average human life span is about four thousand weeks (or 80 years), this book – “time management for mortals” – this book “introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society―and that we could do things differently.” I mean, yes. Sounds like the perfect read for the season of reflecting on the passing of another year.

I’d love to hear: Have you read any of these books? Would you like to read any alongside me in 2022? Let’s chat!

Affiliate links are used in this post!

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My 2021 reading list

4 January 2021

Last year, for the first time, I pre-planned 24 books to read throughout the year – one fiction and one non-fiction each month – for my own personal book club. I was very skeptical about the whole idea (would I hate being constrained? would I lose interest a few months in?), but I agreed – with myself – to hold the plan with loose hands.

Turns out, I loved everything about this project – turns out, it was one of my favorite things about 2020! I did, indeed, hold the plan loosely, especially when libraries closed for several months, and ended up reading 17 of my planned 24 books. Because of it, I was much more thoughtful about the mix of books I read – dipping into a wider variety of authors, subjects, depths, and modes than I would have had I just been at the whim of my library requested-books queue.

That’s what most excites me for my 2021 list. I have spent much time (kind of an embarrassing amount of time, actually) finalizing it. In the process, I referenced trusted friends (many of whom you’ll see sprinkled throughout this post), considered the events of my year, and mined my own extensive TBR iPhone note. I’m excited to read each one of these books, and if you’d like me to join me for any of them, I’d love to have you! Like last year, I’m planning to share a few brief thoughts on Instagram along the way, as well as in my monthly goal posts.

Many of these picks line up with my 2021 goals, which I’ve finalized and am planning to share later this week! Without further ado…

January:
Such a Fun Age | This is by far the number one recommended book that I have not yet read, so I thought I’d give the people what they want and start the year off with it :)
Essentialism | Will be reading with my work gals! I’ve learned that before bed (my usual reading time) is not the best for a work-related book, since it turns my thoughts to work things and makes it hard to fall asleep, so I’m excited to dip into this one while I eat lunch, perhaps? “Essentialism isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s about getting only the right things done.”

February:
Crazy Rich Asians | We watched and loved the movie, and I’ve heard the book that inspired it is even better! A love story seemed appropriate for the month of love :)
Upstairs at the White House | Considering it’s both an inauguration year and February is when we celebrate Presidents Day, this book about family life at the White House, told by the chief usher from FDR’s presidency through the first few weeks of Nixon’s, seemed appropriate! I’ll be reading along with Janssen’s book club.

March:
Homegoing | This one has been on my radar since Jen wrote about it in 2019, and then of course it exploded in popularity midway through 2020. Excited to experience it for myself! I’ll be reading along with Stephanie Shaul’s book club, for which I faithfully read the email communication each month but have never actually attended, ha!
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds | “How can we, as Christian women, keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible? This book will equip you to engage God’s word in a way that trains your mind and transforms your heart.” As someone who missed out on learning practical tools to engage in my faith when younger, I read this description and yelped, “sign me up!”

April:
Olive Kitteridge | I’m intrigued and a bit nervous about this Pulitzer Prize winner. Jo says it’s her favorite book, but the reviews are decidedly mixed, with some readers saying it’s boring and depressing. We shall see :)
Atomic Habits | I mean, can you even work for a company that helps women set goals and NOT have read this book?! Excited to see what all the fuss is about. I’ll be reading with Nancy’s book club!

May:
The Vanishing Half | Maybe the most popular book of 2020, according to social media. Tracing the paths of two sisters as it does, I’m intrigued to compare it to Homegoing!
Being Mortal | This one has been on my TBR list for years, and when it popped up on Janssen’s plan, I knew it was time to get it on my nightstand. As Christians, we are reminded to number our days, and this sounds like a book that can help me do that.

June:
Dear Edward | One 12-year-old survives a plane crash that kills the other 183 passengers – and sets off a “multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters.”
Self Portrait in Black and White | Fun fact about John: you know how we talked about patrons awhile ago? One way he shows his patronage of voices he appreciates is by buying their books. However, he *very* rarely actually reads them – more often, I pick them up after they’ve gathered dust for a few months on his bedside table, and then read choice passages out loud to him before bed, haha. Such is the story of this month’s pick :)

July:
American Royals | A lighthearted romantic comedy that would surely cause the Founding Fathers to roll in their graves. Cheekily reading this in the month of our nation’s birth.
The Gospel Comes with a House Key | Reading with Nancy’s book club! Loved this from the jacket: “Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God’s tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives―helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.”

August:
A Column of Fire | The next book in the Kingsbridge series, which I dearly love!
The Self-Driven Child | Just read the description of this book and you’ll immediately see why I am very excited about it. I love the idea of diving into a book about parenting in the month we’ll be sending our oldest to kindergarten!

September:
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me | This one’s for my friend Pressley, whose recommendations always perk up my ears. Also, four generations of family stories sound right up my alley.
Awaking Wonder | Continuing with the previous month’s theme, this is Sally Clarkson’s take on education in its most holistic form. As I love The Lifegiving Home, I’m excited to learn from her once again.

October:
The Dutch House | Even though I already own a copy of this, it’s the only book I’m considering listening to – I’ve heard the Tom Hanks narration is perfection!
Beautiful Resistance | Jon Tyson speaks right to my heart, soul, and mind whenever he delivers a message on living within (but not of) today’s culture. This one has been sitting on John’s bedside table, too, ha!

November:
The Dearly Beloved | If it’s one of Stephanie’s top 5 books of the year, it’s going on my list! The plot, which weaves together two marriages, across several decades, tied together by the church they steward, promises to be rich and satisfying.
Funny in Farsi | This memoir about an Iranian immigrant family sounds delightful and, well, funny. And it has Janssen’s seal of approval!

December:
The Book of Longings | I am skeptical about this book, but several friends have raved about it and reading The Invention of Wings last year reminded me how much I love Sue Monk Kidd’s writing – so here we are!
Digital Minimalism | The only book I didn’t read from my 2020 list that’s making it onto this year’s list. Helps that I already own it :)

I’d love to hear: have you read any of these books? Would you like to read any alongside me in 2021? Let’s chat!

Affiliate links are used in this post!

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2020 Books Review

30 December 2020

I’ve never done a yearly books review! But, considering I was more systematic about the books I read this year, it felt appropriate to recap them in a more ordered way, too.

In 2020, I read 32 books, which is significantly more than I read in 2019 (20). This could be due to the pandemic and a slightly-less-busy schedule, it could be due to having slightly older children… but I like to think it’s mostly due to choosing books to read in advance. Having a plan for each month kept me moving in the best way!

Of the 32, 17 were from my personal reading club (marked with an asterisk), most were excellent, a few were duds, and 1 or 2 were life-changing. All were read via physical copies, mostly from the library and mostly before bed. In the order I read them…

1.Long Bright River* | A thriller with heart. The writing was beautiful and it kept me up too late many nights :) It gets bonus points because the author is my literary agent brother-in-law’s client! From the jacket: “In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters’ childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.” NYT bestseller, all that good stuff!

2. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry* | So good I wrote a whole blog post about it! My copy has been underlined, dog-eared, read aloud to John, discussed with friends, applied to my life, and recommended many times over. It’s sub-titled “how to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world” and is divided into three sections — the problem, the solution, and four practices for unhurrying your life (silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and slowing). The last section was by my favorite – it was practical, challenging, and gave me lots of good ideas to try in my day-to-day.

3. Ashlords | Our good friend’s newest YA fantasy novel! It was surreal to read since I remember him describing the plot the very first evening we met up for a walk in our neighborhood.

4. Late Migrations | This was a gift from my Mom, and an excellent one at that because it sounds exactly like a book I would love. Unfortunately, though some of the writing was really beautiful, it didn’t sing for me (and the through-line of death just felt heavy).

5. The Sound of Gravel*| A fascinating memoir in the vein of Educated (the author grew up the 39th of her father’s 42 children in a polygamist community in Mexico). Raw and heartbreaking and uplifting.

6. Southern Lady Code* | Do not recommend. Not only did I not howl with laughter, I merely chuckled once or twice. Maybe I’m just not Southern enough?

7. How to Raise a Wild Child* | When reading books like this (manifestos on topics I’m already passionate about), I usually consider them fuel in my tank – encouragement to stay the course! This book, though, combined the passion of a manifesto with some really practical ideas for getting my family outside and facilitating my kids’ connection to nature.

8. The Dream Manager* | Centered around the idea that “a company can only become the best version of itself to the extent that its employees are becoming better versions of themselves,” this book “explores the connection between the dreams we are chasing personally and the way we all engage at work.” Worth picking up if you have a hand in the culture of your workplace!

9. The Golden Hour | My Mom left this book at our house after a last visit before quarantine descended, and since pickings were slim with closed libraries, I picked it up. It’s enjoyable and engrossing, switching between a woman in early-1900s Germany and one in mid-1940s Bahamas. A summer beach read feel!

10. The Tattooist of Auschwitz* | Beloved for good reason! This true story was hard to read at times, as any Holocaust story is, but it was a page-turner that ultimately ended with hope (and love!). A really important reminder of some of the worst and best of humanity.

11. The Invention of Wings | WOW this was so good. I hadn’t read anything by Sue Monk Kidd since The Secret Lives of Bees over a decade ago, and I forgot how elegant of a writer she is. This book is set over several decades in the 1800’s and follows two entwined stories loosely based on real figures: a white girl who grows up to be a Quaker Abolitionist, and the black girl she is given ownership of on her 11th birthday. I think fiction is one of the most beautiful and effective ways to grow empathy for people who are different than us, and on that basis alone I would highly recommend this one.

12. Unshakeable | A memoir written by Cultivate’s summer intern (!). Besides the fact that it’s wildly impressive for a college student to have self-published a book, I appreciated how she handled her rough transition to college, given my own. It was also another eyeopening and frightening look at how insidious anxiety can be for so many people today.

13. The Secrets of Happy Families* | I gave this book an enthusiastic thumbs up on Instagram when I was a few chapters in, and though I still very much recommend it, the first section turned out to be my favorite. The later chapters felt a little more surface to me, and not quite as original.

14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | I have been talking about this classic with Lisa for years, and I’m so glad to have finally experienced it! As she joked, it’s a book where nothing really happens — and yet, you grow so attached to the characters. A very approachable classic!

15. World Without End* | The massive, sweeping sequel to my favorite fiction read of 2019. It did not disappoint. Though many people who’ve read both told me they prefer this one, I think I enjoyed them equally! The plague is a major plot element, which made for interesting reading in this season. Highly recommended!

16. Just Mercy* | So, so, so good. If, like me, you have grown weary of the hot takes, gleeful shaming, and educational oneupmanship that has accompanied this year’s racial justice movement on social media, you might find it equally refreshing to be educated by such a wise, compassionate expert in long-form. The way Bryan weaves together facts, stories, and his experiences is masterful and incredibly impactful.

17. Eligible | I picked this up while we were in Maine and it was an ideal vacation read! Funny, well-paced, and with very short chapters that made it perfect for picking up and putting back down :) The story is based on Pride & Prejudice, but because it’s been years since I read P&P, it had to stand on its own for me, and it did.

18. Bet on Talent* | This work-related pick was a good read, but nothing Earth-shattering. I’m always willing to learn from the masters at CFA about team culture, though!

19. The Giver of Stars* | Controversial opinion! I thought this universally-beloved book was good, not great. The characters felt a little two-dimensional all the way through, and Alice’s husband and father-in-law were so awful that the first half of the book was kind of hard to read for me.

20. The Paris Wife | This novel was enjoyable, but knowing only a little about Hemingway and his first wife, I felt a general sense of dread hanging over me the whole time I was reading, knowing that I didn’t know what was going to happen but that things wouldn’t end well. If I had known Hadley’s life turns out in the end, I think I would have perked up a little :) Also, I assume the more Hemingway you’ve read, the more interesting you’d find this book! (I’ve read very little.)

21. Adopted for Life* | I enjoyed the Biblical depth he offered for the underpinnings of adoption, but I think I was hoping for something more practical.

22. The Signature of All Things | Did not enjoy, do not recommend. Another controversial opinion :)

23. 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You* | I have read many books on our digital lives at this point, and I think this one is middle of the pack. Similar to Adopted for Life, he’s less focused on the practical and more on the big picture… and I guess I like the nitty gritty :) The “change” that has stuck with me the most, though, has really stuck with me: “we ignore our flesh and blood.” I think about it every time I’m tempted to pick up my phone while driving.

24. Lilac Girls | I don’t believe I’ve ever read fiction told from the perspective of a Nazi, which made this novel set in World War II an interesting addition to the genre. If you enjoy stories from this era (The Nightingale, anyone?) you’ll eat up this weaving together of three distinct, yet entwined, narratives.

25. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry | Highly recommended by a dear friend, this novel felt jangly, chaotic, and a little too self-aware at first, but I ended up loving it (though I did find the idea of classmates writing such horrible notes to a fellow 7-year-old – and no grown-up stepping in – hard to stomach). The way it weaves together and unveils the house residents and Miamas kingdoms is magic!

26. Save Me the Plums* | A delightful read. Ruth’s writing is simple but rich, and as a former magazine editor, it was so fun to get the behind-the-scenes details of her time at Gourmet.

27. God and Money* | This was a thought-provoking read, and has already stimulated conversation between John and me. The authors focus a lot on wealth and consumption “finish lines,” ideas I both chafe against and want to embrace.

28. The Handmaid and the Carpenter | A short little book bringing Mary and Joseph’s story to life. Elizabeth Berg is a favorite author of mine and it’s a treat to hear her take on this famous story!

29. The Great Alone* | One of my favorites from the year! Though there is tragedy and darkness woven throughout, it’s an epic, engrossing tale that ends on a bright note. Love, love, love.

30. Time to Parent* | I’m going to file this one under “good for her, not for me.” I agreed with most of her ideas about organizing our time and actions as parents, and there were some gems tucked in, but I’d say this book was a 101 level, and time organization is probably one of the things I’m better at in life. If you’re struggling to find time for all of your priorities as a parent, I think this would be a great read!

31. HRH: So Many Thoughts About Royal Style | A very sweet gift from my work Secret Santa, this has been the perfect read for lazy post-Christmas days (and has also totally gotten us back into The Crown!). I find her writing a little chatty (Can you imagine? Don’t you think?) but it’s a fun read.

32. Make Something Good Today* | I had the joy of reading Erin’s daily blog that inspired this book long before HGTV found her and Ben. Her writing was something special back then, and it shines here, too. I don’t think you need to care at all about their show to enjoy this book, though, of course, if you do, you’ll probably like it even more!

Whew! I hope you found something here to add to your TBR pile, or just to generally inspire a year of reading ahead! I’d love to hear a favorite book you read this year, if you’d like to share! Back with my 2021 list next week :)

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hi! my name is em.

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  • Laura Wifler
  • Lay Baby Lay
  • Magpie by Jen Shoop
  • Nancy Ray
  • Naptime Kitchen
  • NieNie Dialogues
  • Occasions by Shakira
  • Rhiannon Bosse
  • Shay Cochrane

Archives

  • [+]2025
    • [+] May
      • Our teacher graduation book signing tradition
      • May 2025 goals
    • [+] April
      • Family spring break in Hilton Head Island
      • April 2025 goals
    • [+] March
      • March 2025 goals
    • [+] February
      • Each disc a day
      • February 2025 goals
    • [+] January
      • January 2025 goals
      • My 2025 Reading List
      • 2025 Goals
  • [+]2024
    • [+] December
      • 2024: A year in review
      • Best of 2024
      • This summer's family trip to Northern Michigan
      • December 2024 goals
      • Stocking ideas for kids and grown-ups
    • [+] November
      • Favorite gift ideas for the ones you love
      • What we're actually giving our kids this Christmas
      • Gifts for Em
      • November 2024 goals
    • [+] October
      • A fall weekend trip to Bryson City
      • October 2024 goals
    • [+] September
      • Love is --
      • Apple Cider Scones for the first day of fall
      • September 2024 goals
    • [+] August
      • A simple trick to make the most of my clothing budget
      • August 2024 goals
    • [+] July
      • How to host a neighborhood kindergarten breakfast
      • 2024 mid-year goals review
      • July 2024 goals
    • [+] June
      • Family weekend trip to Bald Head Island
      • 10 helpful money decisions we keep repeating
      • June 2024 goals
    • [+] May
      • One woman's beginner intro to rucking
      • May 2024 goals
    • [+] April
      • Family spring break trip to Jekyll Island Club
      • You can change your traditions
      • Marvelous Money: Our mortgage plan update
      • April 2024 goals
    • [+] March
      • Family faith formation practices, part 2
      • What's going in our kids' Easter baskets this year
      • March 2024 goals
    • [+] February
      • On beauty, at age 37
      • 6 small changes I'm glad I made
      • Bang
      • February 2024 goals
    • [+] January
      • An Extended Family Trip to the Florida Keys
      • The Articles Club Guide + Modeling Friendship
      • My 2024 Reading List
      • January 2024 goals
      • 2024 Goals
  • [+]2023
    • [+] December
      • 2023: A year in review
      • Best of 2023
      • Christmas scenes around the house + our cards
      • Marvelous Money: 3 Ways We're Living Generously This Christmas
      • December 2023 goals
    • [+] November
      • A chocolate chip cookie party
      • Yoto giveaway on Substack!
      • What we're actually giving our kids this Christmas
      • Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids and Grown-Ups
      • Our favorite Christmas and winter picture books
      • Favorite gift ideas for the ones you love
      • Gifts for Em
      • November 2023 goals
    • [+] October
      • A fall weekend trip to Boone, NC
      • 5 of My Takeaways from Hunt, Gather, Parent
      • 6 Favorite Soup Recipes
      • Christians in Public School: Em
      • Our 11th anniversary weekend in Charleston
      • Christians in Public School: Ginna
      • October 2023 goals
      • Christians in Public School: Krystal
    • [+] September
      • Christians in Public Schools: Amber
      • More movies for family movie night
      • Christians in Public Schools: Claire
      • A few things on my "decide once" list
      • Christians in Public Schools: Shelby
      • What I'll remember about summer 2023
      • Let's talk about Christians in public schools
      • September 2023 goals
    • [+] August
      • After school jobs for kids
      • Bulletin boards for kids
      • Simplifying kids' artwork
      • Simplifying kids' shoes
      • Ask Em: Moving Away From Family
      • Our master bedroom refresh
      • August 2023 goals
    • [+] July
      • My takeaways from Habits of the Household
      • June's Favorites at 7 Years
      • July 2023 goals
      • 2023 mid-year goals review
    • [+] June
      • A weekend trip with kids to Beaufort, NC
      • June's Favorite Books: Kindergarten and 1st Grade Series
      • Summer fun list
      • How to host a book swap
      • First year baby gear picks after 3 kids, part two
      • June 2023 goals
    • [+] May
      • Our Google Docs Family Packing List
      • Step inside our main room
      • Marvelous Money: The Financial Implications of Having a Third Child
      • How to find a family video song
      • A weekend trip to the Biltmore
      • May 2023 goals
    • [+] April
      • Our favorite family read alouds, part one
      • Our kitchen refresh
      • Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary
      • Marvelous Money: Long-Awaited Splurges
      • 20 Hours in Serenbe
      • April 2023 goals
    • [+] March
      • Top Ten Favorite Board Books
      • 3 Friendship Case Studies
      • New 36
      • Easter Baskets + Persnickety Gifts Giveaway!
      • Family faith formation practices, part 1
      • March 2023 goals
    • [+] February
      • Love and light
      • Reading Harry Potter with our children
      • Our keys to marriage happiness
      • The first annual Articles Club weekend retreat
      • Tips for hosting large groups of houseguests
      • February 2023 goals
    • [+] January
      • A fall weekend in Highlands, NC
      • January 2023 goals
      • All about our family goals (right now)
      • My 2023 Reading List
      • 2023 Goals
  • [+]2022
    • [+] December
      • 2022: A year in review
      • Best of 2022
      • Our 2022 Minted Christmas cards
      • My Purl Soho Advent Calendar
      • Our 10th anniversary trip to Mexico + marriage summit
      • Working part-time as a mom, part four
      • Stocking Stuffers + Persnickety Gifts Giveaway!
      • December 2022 goals
    • [+] November
      • Gifts for Em
      • What we're actually giving our kids this Christmas
      • Working part-time as a mom, part three
      • Bats and Swallows
      • What to include in a college care package
      • Working part-time as a mom, part two
      • November 2022 goals
    • [+] October
      • Seven years of Articles Club
      • Working part-time as a mom, part one
      • Summer in New England
      • October 2022 goals
    • [+] September
      • Family movie night
      • Kitchen Refresh: The Background, Inspiration and Plan
      • What I'm packing for our anniversary trip to Bermuda
      • How we handled summer as two working parents
      • September 2022 goals
    • [+] August
      • First year baby gear picks after 3 kids, part one
      • Summer family reunion in Northern Michigan
      • Shep's camping fourth birthday party
      • August 2022 goals
    • [+] July
      • Day trip to Hammocks Beach State Park
      • July 2022 goals
      • 2022 mid-year goals review
    • [+] June
      • How we ended the school year well and kicked off summer
      • To the middle-of-the-night parent
      • Our tenth anniversary glamping trip at Gold River
      • How to be a more relational writer
      • June 2022 goals
    • [+] May
      • A train ride adventure
      • June's spring flower party
      • Favorite parts of my evening routine
      • Family spring break trip to Jekyll Island
      • May 2022 goals
    • [+] April
      • How to host a stuff swap
      • What I learned from my styling session with Lisa
      • What's going in our kids' Easter baskets this year
      • April 2022 goals
    • [+] March
      • The other names
      • Tips for eating at restaurants with young kids
      • Our weekend trip to Black Mountain, NC
      • March 2022 goals
    • [+] February
      • I'm so glad you're here! (Survey + giveaway!)
      • The best way I've found to regularly see my friends
      • Homemade classroom valentines
      • 13 Tips for the Fourth Trimester After 3 Babies
      • February 2022 goals
    • [+] January
      • Our weekend trip to Virginia-Highland in Atlanta
      • Our top ten meals of 2021
      • Sheptember: Volume 3
      • My 2022 Reading List
      • January 2022 goals
      • 2022 Goals
  • [+]2021
    • [+] December
      • 2021: A Year in Review
      • Extended family photos in WaterColor, Florida
      • 2021 Christmas Cards from Minted
      • Best of 2021
      • 2021 Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers
      • An extended family trip to WaterColor, Florida
      • Annie's Newborn Photos by Anagram Photo
      • What we're actually giving our kids this Christmas
      • December 2021 goals
    • [+] November
      • Gifts for Em
      • The story of Annie's birth
      • 2021 Gift Guide: Your Favorite Grown-Ups
      • 2021 Gift Guide: Your Favorite Kids
      • Our weekend trip to Decatur, Georgia
      • November 2021 goals
      • DIY Family Weather Costume
    • [+] October
      • Six years of Articles Club
      • Blogging Q&A, Part Three: Grab Bag
      • June in June: Volume 6
      • October 2021 goals
    • [+] September
      • Blogging Q&A, Part Two: Content
      • Blogging Q&A, Part One: Nuts and Bolts
      • Fall fun list 2021
      • Morning smoothies
      • Back-to-school dinner 2021
      • What I'll remember about summer 2021
      • September 2021 goals
    • [+] August
      • Fall outfit inspiration
      • Shep's favorites at three years
      • August 2021 goals
    • [+] July
      • How we're getting ready for kindergarten
      • The meaning of Susanna's name
      • Say hello to Susanna
      • 2021 mid-year goals review
      • Making a Big List and some to dos for baby girl
      • July 2021 goals
    • [+] June
      • Backyard garden party baby shower
      • All About Meal Trains
      • Our maternity family photos with Ally & Bobby
      • How to Make the Introduction of a New Sibling More Joyful
      • June 2021 goals
    • [+] May
      • Third trimester update
      • John's Instagram wardrobe
      • Life lately
      • Baking with June
      • Parenting resources I love to learn from
      • May 2021 goals
    • [+] April
      • Our plan for baby girl's nursery
      • Our spring break trip to Jekyll Island
      • Marvelous Money: Investing 101
      • Maternity Family Photo Planning
      • April 2021 goals
    • [+] March
      • How to organize kids clothing
      • Screen-free road trip tips with preschoolers
      • The third Baby Thomas is a...
      • Prepping for Easter baskets
      • Deciding to have a third child
      • Morning and evening skincare routine in my mid-30's
      • More happy news to share
      • March 2021 goals
    • [+] February
      • 34 questions for a 34th birthday, part two
      • 34 questions for a 34th birthday
      • Master bedroom refresh inspiration
      • Children and the passing of time
      • A bright and cheerful kids' bathroom
      • February 2021 goals
    • [+] January
      • Why we love participating in research studies
      • Our Valentine's Day mailbox
      • January 2021 goals
      • 2021 Goals
      • My 2021 reading list
  • [+]2020
    • [+] December
      • 2020: A year in review
      • 2020 Books Review
      • 2020 Christmas cards from Minted
      • Best of 2020 - with friends!
      • Family camping at Blue Bear Mountain Camp
      • 2020 Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers
      • December 2020 goals
    • [+] November
      • What we're actually giving our kids this Christmas
      • 2020 Gift Guide: Your Favorite Grown-Ups
      • Gifts for Em
      • Sheptember: Volume Two
      • Our trip to Highlands, NC
      • Christmas accoutrements
      • November 2020 goals
    • [+] October
      • Our review of June's big-kid bike - the Priority Start 16"
      • Five years of Articles Club
      • Favorite Instant Pot recipes
      • Four-year-old favorites
      • October 2020 goals
    • [+] September
      • My favorite episodes from the Work & Play podcast
      • June in June: Volume 5
      • Marvelous Money: Our net worth meetings
      • Banned phrases in our marriage
      • Our summer trip to Mystic, CT
      • The best guacamole recipe
      • Em's guide to photo organization, part three: printed photo albums
      • September 2020 goals
    • [+] August
      • Upstairs bathroom renovation: the plans
      • Em's guide to photo organization, part two: digital photos
      • Quarantine reflections
      • Everyday magic, Octonauts edition
      • Island in a pandemic
      • Em's guide to photo organization, part one
      • August 2020 goals
    • [+] July
      • Our Berkshires vacation
      • Our favorite at-home, hands-off activities for kids
      • Our favorite summer recipes right now
      • Kitchen quick tip
      • Neely & Chloe wallet + new handbag
      • July 2020 goals
    • [+] June
      • Inspiration for a stay-at-home Fourth of July
      • 2020 mid-year goals review, part two
      • 2020 mid-year goals review, part one
      • Raising kids I like
      • Making the everyday magical: muffin tin snack trays
      • Diverse books to add to your family library
      • June 2020 goals
    • [+] May
      • How I meal plan
      • How to make a recipe binder
      • Our new front porch gate
      • What I've been reading lately
      • May 2020 goals
    • [+] April
      • An easy meal-planning hack
      • Earth-friendly swaps in our home
      • What's growing in our garden this year
      • Easter Weekend 2020
      • A recipe exchange!
      • April 2020 goals
      • This year's Easter baskets
    • [+] March
      • What's making me smile right now
      • The beauty of quiet time
      • My chalk paint desk and downstairs command center
      • Em's Marvelous North Carolina Bucket List
      • March 2020 goals
    • [+] February
      • I'm so glad you're here! (Survey + giveaway!)
      • Help us plan our trip to Watercolor, Atlanta, and Greenville!
      • How to unhurry your life
      • How I'm using Instagram right now
      • February 2020 goals
    • [+] January
      • 9 decisions that led to a life I love
      • Our most-loved kitchen items
      • Sheptember: Volume One
      • The birthday interview
      • January 2020 goals
      • 2020 Goals
      • My 2020 reading list
  • [+]2019
    • [+] December
      • 2019: A year in review
      • Our 2019 Christmas cards + mini session
      • Camping with 5 kids under 5
      • Best of 2019 - with friends!
      • What we're actually giving our kiddos this Christmas
      • All about our 70-mile bike ride
      • December 2019 goals
    • [+] November
      • 2019 Gift Guide: Kiddo Stocking Stuffers
      • 2019 Gift Guide: Your Favorite Kiddos
      • 2019 Gift Guide: Your Favorite Grown-Ups
      • 6 things on my November holiday checklist
      • June in June: Volume 4
      • Gifts for the helpers
      • Kale, sausage, and chickpea pasta
      • November 2019 goals
    • [+] October
      • Words with friends: year four of Articles Club
      • Being a patron
      • October 2019 goals
    • [+] September
      • Shep's first birthday party
      • Simple toy storage in our family room
      • Dating after kids
      • Marriage Q&A, Part 2
      • Marriage Q&A, Part 1
      • September 2019 goals
    • [+] August
      • Marvelous Money: Our new mortgage plan
      • No makeup days
      • Once more to Maine
      • The best book I ever read (as told by 17 book lovers)
      • How to host a book swap party
      • Family favorite: chocolate raspberry pavlova
      • August 2019 goals
    • [+] July
      • Transitioning from 1 to 2 Kiddos: Part Three
      • Outer Banks family vacation in Corolla
      • July 2019 goals
    • [+] June
      • If you're going to give, give graciously
      • Transitioning from 1 to 2 Kiddos: Part Two
      • Mid-year goals review
      • June 2019 Goals
    • [+] May
      • Transitioning from 1 to 2 Kiddos: Part One
      • How I Read
      • May 2019 Goals
    • [+] April
      • Marvelous Money: 10 of my favorite purchases
      • Our neighborhood meal swap
      • Tips for finding the right daycare
      • April 2019 goals
    • [+] March
      • An easy way to print and display Instagram photos
      • Easter basket picks
      • Favorite board games for two people
      • March 2019 goals
    • [+] February
      • The Years of Making Magic
      • On having family close by
      • Shep's New England-Inspired Nursery
      • Shep's newborn photos by Anagram Photo
      • The story of Shep's birth
      • February 2019 goals
    • [+] January
      • What John does
      • Those Winter Sundays
      • Three-year-old favorites
      • June takes ballet
      • January 2019 goals
      • 2019 goals
  • [+]2018
    • [+] December
      • 2018: A year in review
      • Our 2018 Christmas cards and newsletter!
      • 2018 Gift Guide: Husbands, Dads, and Brothers
      • December 2018 goals
    • [+] November
      • 2018 Gift Guide: Parents, Grandparents, and In-Laws
      • 2018 Gift Guide: Sisters, Moms, and Best Friends
      • What to wear for large group family photos
      • Two house guest hacks
      • November 2018 goals
    • [+] October
      • Halloween charcuterie
      • Where there is vision
      • Mom jeans
      • Marvelous City Guide: Asheville
      • What we read this year in Articles Club
      • Marvelous Money: The Tax Benefits of an HSA
      • October 2018 goals
    • [+] September
      • A marvelous giveaway
      • Ten marvelous years
      • Fall fun list
      • Making a modern home movie using iMovie
      • Marvelous Money: Prioritizing Spending v. Saving
      • June in June: Volume 3
      • September 2018 goals
    • [+] August
      • Toddler favorites at two and a half years
      • Self-care for people who don't like self-care
      • 10 of our favorite quick and easy meals
      • The meaning of Shepherd's name
      • Say hello to John Shepherd Thomas!
      • August 2018 goals
    • [+] July
      • Midcoast Maine Summer
      • Our new backyard!
      • Camping with kiddos
      • My thoughts on Amazon Echo and technology in our home
      • Summertime in Connecticut
      • July 2018 goals
    • [+] June
      • A New England nursery for baby boy
      • My favorite parenting books
      • Indelible images of my parents
      • A new chapter
      • Third trimester update
      • What June eats - and my best toddler eating tips
      • June 2018 goals
    • [+] May
      • Our new bedside tables
      • Marvelous Money: the cost of our first year with a baby
      • 10 of our favorite cheap meals
      • Coastal New England style
      • I am the standard
      • My skincare routine
      • My simple fitness hack
      • May 2018 goals
    • [+] April
      • Marvelous Money: Managing Money Together
      • A weekend away in North Georgia
      • How to organize your own childhood memorabilia
      • Easter Weekend
      • April 2018 goals
    • [+] March
      • Spring fun list with a toddler
      • Confidence
      • Baby boy Thomas!
      • Our favorite board games
      • I'm so glad you're here! (Survey + giveaway!)
      • Easter baskets - to do or not to do?
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Kiddos
      • March 2018 goals
    • [+] February
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Spiritual Lives
      • A winter getaway to Anna Maria Island
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Relationships
      • A few things we did for Valentine's Day
      • Happy news to share
      • How We Do It: Organizing our Work
      • A vision for our refined home
      • February 2018 goals
    • [+] January
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Personal Lives
      • A simple way to make your relationship happier
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Homes
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Finances
      • A Life List Book
      • How We Do It: Organizing Our Time
      • Christmas in California
      • 2018 goals
  • [+]2017
    • [+] December
      • 2017: A year in review
      • Christmas Cards 2017
      • Gifts for Em
      • December 2017 goals
    • [+] November
      • Christmas Gift Guide: Your Favorite Kids
      • Christmas Gift Guide: Parents, Grandparents, and In-Laws
      • Christmas Gift Guide: Kind-Hearted Picks
      • Christmas Gift Guide: Sisters, Moms, and Best Friends
      • Toddler favorites at twenty one months
      • Minted Christmas cards + a giveaway!
      • Getting our home ready for guests
      • Our living room rug
      • November 2017 goals
    • [+] October
      • The fifth annual pumpkins and soup party
      • Marvelous Money: 26 Ways to Save Money
      • A surprising source for fall clothes
      • Great articles to read with friends
      • 10 great dinners for new parents
      • October 2017 goals
    • [+] September
      • What to send in a college care package
      • Jack
      • Five intentions for the next five years of marriage
      • Does your wedding look timeless?
      • The beauty of an imperfect home
      • September 2017 goals
    • [+] August
      • June in June: Volume 2
      • 30th birthday book
      • House contentment hack
      • Lake Life in Northern Michigan
      • August 2017 goals
    • [+] July
      • Marvelous Money: A review of Financial Peace University
      • Master camping packing list
      • Camping with toddlers
      • 7 Tips for 2017 Graduates
      • July 2017 goals
    • [+] June
      • Our secret birthday anniversary trips
      • Wisdom from my Dad
      • Mid-year goals review
      • How to make something a habit
      • Our five must-have baby registry items
      • June 2017 goals
    • [+] May
      • A month of meals: spring edition
      • Summer fun list (with a toddler!)
      • How to make friends in your neighborhood
      • Marvelous Mama Beth
      • Fun baby shower game
      • May 2017 goals
    • [+] April
      • Personal beauty consult with LULA Hair + Makeup
      • Marvelous City Guide: Durham, North Carolina
      • Fifteen month baby favorites
      • Our backyard project: the plan and inspiration
      • April 2017 goals
    • [+] March
      • Our backyard project: the before
      • Taking ballet again
      • Pretty athletic leggings
      • HGTV Home Town and our house portraits
      • 60 Before 30 Recap
      • How to host a favorite things party
      • Marvelous Money: Paying Off Our Mortgage Early
      • 10 hopes for my 30s
      • March 2017 Goals
    • [+] February
      • Month-by-month baby photos
      • How I am trying to love people well
      • June's first birthday
      • 2017 Survey Results: I'm still glad you're here!
      • Choosing my Warby Parker sunglasses
      • A month of meals: winter edition
      • I'm glad you're here! Survey + giveaway
      • February 2017 Goals
    • [+] January
      • 12 years together
      • June's favorite playlist
      • Baby favorites at one year
      • Marvelous Money: Making Trade-offs
      • June's buffalo check and Liberty print nursery
      • NC Museum of Art family photos
      • Day-in-the-Life Family Photos with Nancy Ray
      • Happy one year, June
      • June's first Christmas
      • 2017 Goals
  • [+]2016
    • [+] December
      • 2016: A Year in Review
      • Christmas Cards 2016
      • How we keep Christmas about Christ
      • My favorite Christmas recipes
      • Gifts for Em
      • December 2016 goals
    • [+] November
      • Our favorite Christmas traditions
      • Marvelous Money: Making a yearly budget
      • Gifts for husbands, dads, and brothers
      • Gifts for sisters, moms, and best friends
      • 14 great gifts for kids
      • Farmhouse Pottery
      • Minted Christmas Cards + A Giveaway!
      • November 2016 goals
    • [+] October
      • Camping with babies
      • The best cooking playlist
      • Planning multigenerational family photos
      • Calligraphy vows prints in our master bedroom
      • How to slow down time, part two
      • Rituals, traditions, and the perception of time
      • How to slow down time, part one
      • October 2016 goals
    • [+] September
      • Signature family dishes
      • Apple cider scones
      • Marvelous Mama Rachael
      • Four years of marriage
      • How to host an articles club
      • Eight month baby favorites
      • June in June: Volume 1
      • September 2016 goals
    • [+] August
      • Marvelous Mama Margaret
      • Easy date idea: a dessert crawl
      • A week on the Connecticut shoreline
      • Lisa's all-white French-inspired baby shower
      • What's in our diaper bag
      • Baby shower ideas for Lisa
      • 15 Things I Love About North Carolina
      • August 2016 goals
    • [+] July
      • 12 Things I Miss About New England
      • 7 Tips for Road Tripping with an Infant
      • Pleased to make your acquaintance
      • July 2016 goals
    • [+] June
      • The great Southwest adventure
      • Five month favorites
      • Summer fun list (with an infant!)
      • June 2016 goals
    • [+] May
      • Life lately
      • June's newborn photos by Graham Terhune
      • The story of June's birth
      • Pregnancy book recommendations
      • May 2016 goals
    • [+] April
      • Our favorites from the first six weeks
      • Marvelous Mama MacKenzie
      • Charleston for the weekend (with a three-month-old)
      • Thanking our post-partum nurses
      • April 2016 goals
    • [+] March
      • My favorite natural deodorant
      • Notes from the first six weeks, part two
      • Marvelous Mama Allyson
      • Notes from the first six weeks, part one
      • A blueberry baby shower
      • Spring clothing favorites for baby girl
      • March 2016 goals
    • [+] February
      • Birthday weekend
      • Marvelous Mama Julia
      • Found: the most delicious banana bread
      • Notes from our hospital stay
      • Favorite new artist: Erin Gregory
      • Marvelous Mama Kate
      • February 2016 goals
    • [+] January
      • Marry the kind one
      • Marvelous Mama Amanda
      • Champagne bar with tinsel stirrers
      • The meaning of June's name
      • Marvelous Mama Samantha
      • Say hello to June Chen Thomas!
      • Introducing Marvelous Mama
      • My 2016 guideposts
      • My 2016 inspiration board
  • [+]2015
    • [+] December
      • 2015: A year in review
      • Goal setting for 2016 with PowerSheets
      • Our end-of-year celebration dinner
      • Christmas cards 2015
      • Gifts for Em
      • Planning our newborn photo session
      • Marvelous Money: A new way to watch TV
      • December 2015 Goals
    • [+] November
      • Our new dining room chairs
      • Tips for shopping kids consignment sales
      • Weekend trip to Nashville
      • Minted Christmas cards + a giveaway!
      • Our soup and pumpkins tradition
      • November 2015 Goals
    • [+] October
      • 12 favorite fall recipes
      • Third trimester update
      • Framed & Matted
      • An Articles Club
      • Blue buffalo check nursery plans
      • House Tour 2015: Upstairs
      • October 2015 Goals
    • [+] September
      • House Tour 2015: Downstairs
      • Baby Girl Thomas!
      • The best way to reheat pizza
      • Weekend trip to Greenville
      • Three years of marriage
      • Telling the families our baby news
      • Fall To Do List 2015
      • Baby registry input
      • September 2015 Goals
    • [+] August
      • Fall clothing favorites
      • Marvelous Money: Our car fund
      • Deciding to have children
      • Maine 2015
      • La Vie en Rose: the Côte d'Azur
      • Something to share...
      • La Vie en Rose: Cassis
      • August 2015 Goals
    • [+] July
      • La Vie en Rose: Provence
      • Strawberry baby shower picnic in the park
      • La Vie en Rose: Versailles
      • La Vie en Rose: Paris
      • Natural wood dresser
      • A spring woodland baby shower for Nancy
      • Inspiration Board No. 105: Spring Woodland Baby Shower
      • Marvelous summer playlist
      • July 2015 Goals
    • [+] June
      • Happy Father's Day
      • No. 45: Go to Europe
      • Wilmington and Bald Head Island
      • June 2015 Goals
    • [+] May
      • Packing for Provence
      • One Love Organics + new face wash routine
      • West Elm nautical collection
      • The drinking water game
      • Em's camping favorites
      • May 2015 Goals
    • [+] April
      • Thoughts on camping
      • Fruit of the spirit: peace
      • Natalie + Joe's summer wedding at the Branford House
      • Marvelous Money: Start Rich
      • Help me choose my new glasses!
      • Our wedding album from Milk Books
      • Weekend in Beaufort, SC
      • Weekend in Savannah
      • April 2015 Goals
    • [+] March
      • Camping 2015 + Texas road trip
      • Spring trip to NYC
      • Marvelous spring playlist
      • Packing for Paris
      • March 2015 Goals
    • [+] February
      • Replacing paper towels
      • Cafe curtain inspiration for the dining room
      • Fruit of the spirit: joy
      • We are going to France!!
      • Marvelous Money: Preparing financially for a baby
      • Ten year dativersary
      • February 2015 Goals
    • [+] January
      • No. 54: Learn some flower arranging skills
      • A family treasure
      • Our new rug + foyer plans
      • Tips for travel planning
      • Fruit of the spirit: love
      • Why iPhone notes are genius
      • 2015 Goals
      • New year, new topics!
  • [+]2014
    • [+] December
      • 2014: A year in review
      • Tinsel stirrers in the limelight!
      • Christmas Cards 2014
      • Gifts for Em
      • Our new red front door!
      • Marvelous Money: Charitable Giving Accounts
      • 2014 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Littles
      • 2014 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Neutral Gifts
      • December 2014 Goals
      • 2014 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Colorful Gifts
    • [+] November
      • Happiest Thanksgiving + Inspiration Board No. 104
      • Featured in Emily Ley's Simplicity Series!
      • Rethinking our wall of art
      • Minted Christmas cards + a giveaway!
      • Minted does fabric
      • November 2014 goals
    • [+] October
      • H&M home for the holidays
      • My ultimate dream home and other magazine memories
      • Marvelous Money: Why do we spend so much?
      • Porch party
      • October 2014 goals
    • [+] September
      • Fall to do list
      • Caitlin Wilson Designs giveaway!
      • 2014 reading list so far
      • Top 25 favorite chapter books
      • Top 25 favorite picture books
      • Six years of blogging
      • The houses of Serenbe
      • Two years of marriage
      • Jackie + George's Wedding
      • Puffin in Bloom
      • September Goals
    • [+] August
      • Sailing in Maine
      • Replacing my Toms
      • August in Maine
      • House Tour 2014: Upstairs
      • House Tour 2014: Downstairs
      • August Goals
    • [+] July
      • Little adventurer baby shower
      • California Dreaming: San Francisco
      • Natalie and Joe are married!
      • California Dreaming: Yosemite
      • California Dreaming: Monterey and Carmel
      • July Goals
    • [+] June
      • California Dreaming: Cambria, San Simeon, Big Sur
      • Watercolor house portraits
      • California Dreaming: Santa Barbara, Montana de Oro, Cayucos
      • California Dreaming: Malibu, Ojai, Montecito
      • Planning a point-to-point trip
      • June Goals
    • [+] May
      • Summer fun with friends
      • Buckwheat and banana pancakes
      • Shark Tank
      • Front porch inspiration
      • May goals
    • [+] April
      • What we eat, part two
      • What we eat, part one
      • Pysanky eggs
      • Weekend in Charleston
      • Our house's colors
      • April goals
    • [+] March
      • Five favorite abstract artists
      • Marvelous Money: A Beginner's Guide to IRAs
      • No. 49: Canoe down the Haw River
      • Dining room table lighting options
      • The Well's End and other thoughts on reading
      • March 2014 Goals
    • [+] February
      • 60 Before 30
      • Teal and emerald bridesmaid dresses
      • Cuyana
      • A marvelous love story
      • Garlands of love
      • Birthday presents on the hour
      • February 2014 Goals
    • [+] January
      • Finding your team after a move
      • The cure for homesickness
      • New kitchen pendant lights!
      • California dreaming
      • Classic and romantic
      • DIY gold dot stationery
      • Marvelous Money: Paying off debt
      • 2014 Goals
  • [+]2013
    • [+] December
      • 2013: A year in review
      • Christmas cards 2013
      • Gifts for Em
      • 2013 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Littles
      • 2013 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Gents
      • 2013 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Bright Gifts
      • 2013 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Neutral Gifts
      • Blessed to be a Blessing: Giving at Christmas
      • December Goals
    • [+] November
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • How we plan our meals
      • Weekend adventures
      • How I organize my blogging
      • How I use my Simplified Planner
      • Face first
      • Our kitchen chalkboard wall!
      • Minted Christmas cards + a giveaway!
      • November Goals
    • [+] October
      • Slightly nautical nursery
      • Cozy fall playlist
      • Inspiration Board No. 103: State Fair Celebration
      • Colorful gallery wall
      • Homemade chicken nuggets
      • Marvelous Money: A Beginner's Guide to 401ks
      • Easy Raised Garden Bed
      • Living with kids
      • October Goals
    • [+] September
      • Inspiration board no. 102: Peacock, shale, teal, and emerald
      • Fall to do list
      • Sperry Tent Layout
      • Observations from one year of marriage
      • Traveling wedding friends
      • A visit to the cobbler
      • On longtime friends and weddings
    • [+] August
      • Marvelous Money: Why save for retirement?
      • The great area rug search
      • Tips for hosting an adventure dinner party
      • Life lately
      • August Goals
    • [+] July
      • Marvelous Mondays: Gallery wall inspiration
      • Two useful things
      • An ode to golf course strolls
      • Our first apartment
      • Camping with friends
      • Stepping into the Great Gatsby
      • Summertime in Northern Michigan
      • Happy Fourth!
      • July Goals
    • [+] June
      • Summer to do list
      • Honeymoon in Nevis, Part 2
      • Guest post on Snippet & Ink!
      • Honeymoon in Nevis, Part 1
      • Tried and true recipes, no. 2
      • Day one
      • June Goals
    • [+] May
      • Tips for everyday adventures
      • House search update no. 3: The conclusion
      • Home
      • Happy Mother's Day
      • Tinsel stirrers at a baby shower!
      • May Goals
    • [+] April
      • Inspiration Board No. 101: A Nevis Wedding
      • Pet Nicknames
      • Marvelous Monday: Small Backyards
      • Marvelous Money: Tracking your budget with the envelope system
      • Packing for Nevis!
      • Marvelous Money: Tracking your budget with Google Docs
      • April Goals
    • [+] March
      • Inspiration Board No. 100: Anne of Green Gables
      • Picks for spring
      • House search update no. 2
      • Making Things Happen
      • Marvelous Mondays: Easter Eggs
      • Marvelous Money: How to spend money
      • Beyond the Sea: The budget
      • March Goals
    • [+] February
      • The Birthday Party Project
      • Inspiration Board No. 99: Beyond the Sea
      • Beyond the sea: Reception
      • Beyond the sea: Cocktail hour
      • Beyond the sea: Our ceremony
      • Beyond the sea: First look
      • Beyond the sea: Wedding morning
      • Beyond the sea: Rehearsal dinner
      • Beyond the sea: Final preparations
      • February Goals
    • [+] January
      • House search update
      • Marvelous Money: Building a budget
      • Tinsel stirrers in the shop!
      • Super foods
      • Marvelous Money: Managing Joint Finances
      • Friends of Em + Graham Terhune Photography
      • Board No. 98: Backyard Garden Party Wedding
      • Marvelous Money: The emergency fund
      • Marget and Seth's Wedding
      • Marvelous Mondays: Bedrooms with wood plank walls
      • Marvelous Money: What's your story?
      • Target Threshold Spring Collection
      • Welcome back to the Bachelor
      • January Goals
      • Daily Goals 2013
  • [+]2012
    • [+] December
      • 2012: A year in review
      • Merry Christmas!
      • Christmas cards 2012
      • Board No. 97: Blue and White Christmas
      • Em loves you: A Christmas giveaway
      • Gifts for Em
      • Em for Marvelous Christmas playlist 2012
      • 2012 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Neutral Gifts
      • 2012 Em for Marvelous Gift Guide: Bright Gifts
    • [+] November
      • Blessed to be a blessing: acts of kindness for Christmas
      • Felt mistletoe
      • Christmas cupcake flags in the shop!
      • Marvelous mondays: wreaths
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • Gold party outfit
      • Crafting our ceremony: serving communion
      • Our wedding film from Inkspot Crow
      • Marvelous mondays: kitchen banquettes
      • Crafting our ceremony: our vows
      • Modern Christmas newsletter
      • Minted Christmas Cards
      • Crafting our ceremony: music
    • [+] October
      • Inspiration Board No. 96: Falling for Dahlias
      • Christmas trees in baskets
      • Hiking in Asheville
      • Antiquing in Asheville
      • Eating in Asheville
      • Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
      • Gilded pumpkins!
      • Crafting our ceremony: readings
      • Marvelous mondays: caramel apples
      • Pure Barre
      • Advice for first time home buyers
      • Marvelous mondays: gilded pumpkins
      • The hunt is over: Nitsa's
      • On the hunt: David's Bridal
      • On the hunt: The White Dress by the Shore
      • Marvelous mondays: black stair railings
    • [+] September
      • On the hunt: Maddison Row
      • On the hunt: inspiration
      • Fall to do list
      • Marvelous mondays: built-in bunks for four
      • New beginnings
      • Wedding road trip!
      • Wedding planning update: 9 days to go
      • Our wedding registry
      • A good weekend
    • [+] August
      • Wedding planning update: 16 days to go
      • Wedding planning update: 24 days to go
      • A picnic bridal shower
      • Rehearsal dinner outfit
      • Wedding planning update: 1 month to go
      • Favorite group portraits
      • Our wedding invitations, part two
      • Our wedding invitations, part one
      • Invitations out of the house!
      • Matt & Claudia are married!
      • Invitations in the house!
    • [+] July
      • Dreams do come true
      • Paloma's Nest Ring Bearer Bowl
      • Ann Taylor tops
      • Seasonal Home of Gales Ferry
      • Wedding planning update: 2 months to go
      • Mike & Antonia are married!
      • Seth and Marget are getting married!
      • Oilcloth project possibilities
      • Wedding day emergency kit
      • Happy Fourth of July!
      • June Instagram
    • [+] June
      • Accessories Week: Comb + Veil
      • Accessories Week: Earrings + Clutch
      • Accessories Week: Bracelet + Necklace
      • Classic Groom Essentials
      • Summer to do list
      • A Kate Spade Bridal Shower
      • Wedding planning update: 3 months to go
      • Paper Picks 2012: One Canoe Two
      • Paper Picks 2012: Belle & Union
      • Paper Picks 2012: Alee & Press
      • Paper Picks 2012: Figs & Ginger
      • Paper Picks 2012: Mr. Boddington's Studio
      • Our engagement photos!
      • Cupcake flags + donuts!
    • [+] May
      • Lot 190 + blue doors
      • Wedding weekend welcome packs
      • Wedding planning update: 3+ months to go
      • Busy week ahead!
      • Quaker marriage certificate
      • Inn at Palmetto Bluff: Treehouse
      • Accessorizing
      • Backyard bridal shower
      • Lowcountry Produce
      • Hunting Island State Park
      • 101 in 1001: May 2012
      • City Loft Hotel in Beaufort, SC
    • [+] April
      • Old Sheldon Church Ruins
      • Bridesmaid dress recap
      • Wedding planning update: 4+ months to go
      • Engagement photos!
      • The wedding morning, part three
      • Get yo' cocktails on
      • Vintage silver at the reception
      • Sweet peas in weddings
      • Drink more water
      • Tried and true recipes
      • Ways to Personalize a Groom's Formal Look
      • Tuxedo junction
      • Flea market find: floral frogs
      • A Kate Spade Bridal Shower: The Invitations!
      • A Kate Spade Bridal Shower: Inspiration
      • Tips for hiring destination wedding vendors
    • [+] March
      • Black and white dance floors
      • Inspiration Board No. 95: Pastel Spring
      • Wedding planning update: 5+ months to go!
      • Method spring soaps
      • Spring to do list
      • A dress for the mother of the bride!
      • Registering for china
      • Sweet watercolor paintings
      • (Almost) Spring weekend
      • Black and White Cheesecake Brownies
      • Adorably Small Houses
      • Kate Spade Sample Sale
      • Valentine's Day Party Invitations
      • 101 in 1001: March 2012
      • Spring Fling
    • [+] February
      • Here's to 25
      • Colorful Cocktail Napkins
      • Wedding planning update: 6+ months to go!
      • Mini desserts
      • Julie & Julia Dinner Party
      • How to Make a Wedding Website Using Blogger
      • Happy Valentine's Day!
      • Flea Market Finds
      • A creative groomsman "proposal"
      • Bells will be ringing
      • Our videographer + budget realities
      • Easy Valentine's Day DIY
      • A slightly military wedding ceremony
      • Our save the dates!
      • 101 in 1001: February 2012
    • [+] January
      • Wedding shoes: update!
      • The wedding morning, part two
      • Gowns with netted straps
      • Wedding planning update: 7+ months to go!
      • Yard sale chairs remade!
      • Recycled art!
      • Garden bouquet inspiration
      • Bouquet wrap inspiration
      • A Trip to M&J Trimming
      • Bridesmaid Dresses!
      • Our wedding photographer: Tanja Lippert!
      • Player piano
      • Inspiration Board No. 94: Mulberries in Hawaii
      • Wedding shoes!
      • Em for Gems
      • Old Lucketts Store + silver update
      • 2012 Goals
      • Scenes from the holidays
  • [+]2011
    • [+] December
      • Merry Christmas!
      • Christmas in the apartment
      • Our Christmas cards!
      • Gift Wrapping Inspiration
      • Inspiration Board No. 93: New Tartan
      • Em for Minted: Giveaway winner!
      • Inspiration Board No. 92: Candy-Colored Christmas
      • Gifts for Em
      • EFM Gift Guide 2011: Neutrals + Metallics
      • EFM Gift Guide 2011: Colorful
      • EFM Gift Guide 2011: Cool Tones
      • EFM Gift Guide 2011: Brights
      • Giveaway: Em for Minted!
      • Welcome to Em for Marvelous!
      • Christmas tartan
      • Wreaths
    • [+] November
      • Watercolor letterpress calendar
      • Vintage state towels
      • Peppermint drink stirrers in the shop!
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • The perfect cardigan
      • Thanksgiving dinner inspiration
      • More silver for the reception!
      • Cayman Islands
      • The wedding morning
      • Inspiring menus
      • Sperry tents
      • Faux fur fuzzies
      • Eno River fall foliage
      • 101 in 1001: November 2011
    • [+] October
      • Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
      • Steve Madden flats
      • Candlelit
      • Wedding planning update: 10+ months to go
      • Hostess gift idea!
      • Minted save the date options
      • Rainbow bookshelf
      • Ringing the bell
      • Makeup bags
      • charleston: angel oak & middleton plantation
      • charleston: folly beach & kayaking
      • Donuts at weddings
      • Haw River rock hop
      • Green Knob Trail
      • Edward Hopper stamps
      • Pink in the park
      • 101 in 1001: October 2011
    • [+] September
      • Camping this weekend!
      • Bacon + avocado grilled cheese
      • Embroidering
      • Kendra Scott earrings
      • Wedding planning update: 11+ months to go
      • Fall to do list
      • Summer to do list: update!
      • Venue reveal: our reception site!
      • Venue reveal: our ceremony site!
      • Wedding prep extravaganza!
      • The great venue search (part two)
      • The great venue search (part one)
      • Berry wedding ideas
      • Polka dot gift bags
      • Treehouse Point
      • Pretty hellebores
      • Mini food at weddings, part II
      • Amy Merrick
      • Rope bracelets
      • Charleston: Video!
      • Charleston: French Quarter + Battery
      • Charleston: Eats
    • [+] August
      • Charleston: Folly Beach + Kayaking
      • Charleston: Angel Oak + Middleton Plantation
      • Back Porch Music at the American Tobacco Campus
      • Wedding planning update: 12+ months out
      • Minted business cards!
      • Book baby shower
      • Flea market success!
      • Flag escort cards in action!
      • Back from Charleston!
      • Charleston
      • Black Bean Mexican Pizza
      • Backyard wedding with string lights
      • Summer wedding dress
      • 101 in 1001: August 2011
    • [+] July
      • All time favorites: M and C
      • All time favorites: Lauren and Joe
      • Wedding planning update: 12+ months out
      • All time favorites: Caroline and Clark
      • All time favorites: Liz and Chris
      • All time favorites: Dabney and Rob
      • All time favorites: Erin and Paul
      • All time favorites: Lily and John
      • Mini food at weddings
      • White bouquet with dusty miller
      • My engagement ring!
      • Weekend in Beaufort
      • You will probably want to watch this video...
      • Happy Fourth!
      • 101 in 1001: July 2011
    • [+] June
      • Drink stirrers in action!
      • Marget + Seth engaged!
      • Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad
      • Deep dish chocolate chip cookies
      • Maine Squeeze: We Toast
      • Poppers
      • Board No. 91: Green and Cafe Au Lait
      • Guest bedroom style
      • Fourth of July drink stirrers!
      • Apartment garden: June
      • Flea market find: faux bamboo table
      • Maine Squeeze: More Decor
      • Bathroom plans!
      • Bow-quet
      • 101 in 1001: June 2011
      • Veronica Sheaffer swiss dot gowns
      • Market Imports in Raleigh
    • [+] May
      • Outdoor summer movies
      • BHG winners!
      • Happy Memorial Day!
      • BHG giveaway reminder + recipes
      • Seersucker bikinis
      • Pedestal sink bathroom
      • Apartment garden: baby plants
      • Maine Squeeze: We play!
      • Better Homes & Gardens site redesign + giveaway!
      • National Stationery Show
      • Festive brunch ideas
      • Cheerful ribbon boutonniere
      • Board No. 90: Daybreak
      • Ann Taylor Loft Petites
      • One-piece swimsuit round up
      • 101 in 1001: May 2011
      • Summer to do list
    • [+] April
      • Blue bedrooms
      • Maine Squeeze: We eat!
      • Better Homes & Gardens May Issue
      • Board No. 89: Royal Wedding Sapphire
      • Easter weekend!
      • Formal accessories on a budget
      • Ombre cakes
      • Vintage Village
      • Maine Squeeze: Lemonade and Cookies
      • Swiss dot wedding fashion
      • Nautical bags
      • En plein air piano
      • Maine Squeeze: They make their vows
      • Keds
      • Cherry blossom weekend!
      • 101 in 1001: April 2011
    • [+] March
      • Maine Squeeze: The girls get ready
      • Swell towels
      • Cherry blossom wedding ideas
      • Board No. 88: Soft cherry blossoms
      • H&M pillows
      • Maine Squeeze: We wake up very early
      • On being green
      • Board No. 87: Plum and evergreen for Caroline
      • I stop writing the poem
      • Happy St. Patrick's Day!
      • Maine Squeeze: We eat lobster!
      • P&P packaging
      • Making an inspiration board
      • Chebeague Island wedding
      • Maine Squeeze: Wharf jump!
      • Bridal shower tin cans
      • Board No. 86: Beyond the sky blue sea
      • Anthro headbands
      • Pierrepont Hicks Spring
      • My whole heart
      • 101 in 1001: March 2011
    • [+] February
      • Happy birthday to me!
      • Maine Squeeze: Rehearsal and wiffle ball!
      • Janet Hill Studio
      • Bridesmaid dresses
      • Long distance maps
      • Maine Squeeze: We raise the tent!
      • Apartment garden: the seedlings!
      • Winter travels: the Old Edwards Inn
      • Board No. 85: My Summer Valentine
      • Happy Valentine's Day weekend!
      • From Song of the Open Road
      • Polka dot dress, version two!
      • Maine Squeeze: More preparations
      • Bow-Bedecked Car
      • Anthro Color-Dipped Dress
      • Tulle tables
      • Maine Squeeze: It begins
      • Creative escort card ideas
      • 101 in 1001: February 2011
    • [+] January
      • Board No. 84: Bold Yellow
      • Casual wedding portraits
      • To paint or not to paint?
      • Shower curtain update
      • Happy Monday!
      • Polka dot dress
      • TOMS update
      • P&P valentines!
      • Board No. 83: The Most Delicate of Delicates
      • Colorful dresses
      • Robert Allen Khandar fabric for sale!
      • Better Homes and Gardens January issue
      • John Robshaw Textiles
      • New York, New York!
      • Pink + gold wedding invitations
      • New favorite wedding dress!
      • 101 in 1001: January 2011
      • 101 in 1001, Vol. II
  • [+]2010
    • [+] December
      • Happy New Year's Eve!
      • A very merry Christmas to you!
      • Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Jalapeno
      • Board No. 82: Pinecones and Sage
      • Nutcracker tonight + 101 reminder!
      • Christmas CD Swap Wrap Up!
      • Modern Christmas from JL Designs
      • Black and white Christmas
      • Comfy winter bedroom
      • Christmas cards!
      • Board No. 81: Softly Shining Christmas
      • P&P Gift Guide 2010: Metallic
      • P&P Gift Guide 2010: Neutrals
      • P&P Gift Guide 2010: Cool
      • P&P Gift Guide 2010: Warm
      • Board No. 80: All that Glitters is Gold
      • Modcloth for New Year's Eve
      • 20x200 on One Kings Lane
      • Happy December!
    • [+] November
      • Colorful blocks
      • Thanksgiving Recap
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • Sycamore Street Press Announcement
      • Recent project
      • Board No. 79: Jewel Tone Thanksgiving
      • Christmas CD Swap!
      • Toms shoes
      • Four weddings...
      • Possible Curtain Fabric
      • Shutterfly Holiday Cards
      • Thanksgiving table inspiration
      • Inspiration Board No. 78: Fall Figs
      • In which I consider buying a leopard jacket
      • Out to Dinner: The Grove Park Inn
      • Gifted Magazine
      • Happy November!
    • [+] October
      • The Middle Daughter
      • Blues + natural texture
      • Cherry wedding
      • Minted Holiday Cards
      • Tree trunk side tables
      • Frye Boots
      • Applique wedding dress
      • Someone please have a baby so I can buy you one of these
      • Toast & Laurel
      • 101 in 1001: Favorites!
      • 101 in 1001: Recap, Part III
      • 101 in 1001: Recap, Part II
      • 101 in 1001: Recap, Part I
      • Board No. 77: Rich Fall
      • Weekend Project: Closet Cleanup
      • Nate Berkus
      • Cool and classic cocktail party
      • Kitchen ferns
      • Basil centerpiece
      • Sweet Potato Harvest
    • [+] September
      • My china pattern
      • Navy and Yellow Bunting
      • More relaxed portraits
      • Gorgeous recipe styling
      • Fall Fashion Week: J. Crew
      • Fall Fashion Week: Old Navy
      • Fall Fashion Week: LOFT
      • Fall Fashion Week: Land's End Canvas
      • K + C Get Married: The Film
      • Dark August
      • Breakfast Jewelry
      • The Ribbonerie
      • Out to Dinner: Vin Rouge
      • Monday, Monday
      • Inspiration Board No. 76: Black and White Summer
      • Happy weekend!
      • Happy September!
    • [+] August
      • Kate + Cormac DIY: Ribbon Drink Stirrers
      • Shower curtains
      • Blue and white decor
      • Peach and Pearl in Brides!
      • What I learned
      • The bunting is up!
      • Loading the truck
      • Addison's Vision
      • Allow me to introduce...
      • Paper wedding bells
      • Classically elegant Stephanie Williams wedding
      • Peony pave posts
      • Retro getaway car
      • Relaxed family portraits
      • Rubber lace coasters
      • Cookie reception
      • Classically elegant Cooper Carras wedding
    • [+] July
      • Neiman picks under $100
      • Max & Margaux
      • New in the shop!
      • Front Door Decoration
      • Board No. 75: Spring Green Garden Party
      • Summer
      • Casual Interiors
      • Welcome to Maine!
      • Edible centerpieces
      • One Month Out
      • Summer camp
      • Lewis & Sheron Fabrics
      • Weekend Project: Handmade Wedding Signs
      • Bright gingham shorts
      • Board No. 74: Bold Blue and Red Picnic
      • Happy Fourth!
      • Happy July!
    • [+] June
      • Buttermilk and friends
      • Dream Home: Hideaways + Nooks
      • K + C wedding invitation
      • Figueroa Mountain Wedding
      • Whoopie!
      • Emersonmade Sneak Peak
      • Board No. 73: Daisy Blue
      • Happy weekend!
      • Les petites douceurs
      • Good Bones Great Pieces
      • How to find fun things to do!
      • i love you much(most beautiful darling)
      • Oriental rugs in interesting places
      • Kate's alphabet bridal shower
      • Friend ship
      • Board No. 72: Pomegranate + Plum
      • Gilded wood blocks
      • Alligator stationery
      • 101 in 1001: June 2010
      • Today I love...
    • [+] May
      • Alphabet poster round-up
      • Dream Home: Outdoor living spaces
      • Miyuki Sakai
      • Favorite fabric sources
      • Honeysuckle perfume
      • Board No. 71: Hamptons Pool Party
      • Happy weekend!
      • Daybreak
      • Summer dresses
      • Lobster welcome dinner
      • Dream Home: Exposed beams, open feel
      • Sailor's knot bracelet, v. 2
      • Board No. 70: Red and orange ranunculus
      • On Turning Ten
      • The non-toss ceremony exit
      • Netflix queue
      • Zebra shorts
      • Porcelain farmer's market containers
      • Bulletin board wall
    • [+] April
      • A Blessing
      • Vintage beach engagement session + style board
      • Dream Home: Snuggly Beds
      • My new favorite...
      • Timeless glamour
      • Lobstah
      • Blackberries for Amelia
      • Alphabet bridal shower invitations
      • New in the shop!
      • Striped paper straws
      • Striped paper straws
      • Board No. 69: Fruit and Flowers
      • Coda
      • New bike
      • Bunting invite + bunting cake
      • Dream Home: Kitchen Island
      • Indian Summer at Lands End
      • DIY: Paper Dogwood Flowers
      • Dream Home: Walls of Books
      • Bunting Portraits
      • Board No. 68: Black and Red Gingham
      • Box of sunshine
      • Hummingbird
      • 101 in 1001: April, 2010
    • [+] March
      • Dream Home: Filled with light
      • Mini bunting
      • Dream Home: Deep Window Seats
      • Save that date!
      • Board No. 67: How Does Your Garden Green?
      • New looks from old standbys
      • Board No. 66: Zinc and Deep Royal
      • My new favorite...
      • Orange you glad
      • Bunting 101: Help!
      • Vintage silverware garden markers
      • And my Oscar goes to...
      • Oscar Party Prep
      • Bamboo for you (and me)
      • 101 in 1001: March, 2010
    • [+] February
      • DIY Calligraphy
      • Bunting cards
      • Spring dresses
      • K + C: Google Docs
      • Persimmon & Pink
      • Valentines: A Recap
      • Campfire votive
      • Board No. 65: Stone Fruits, Baking Tarts
      • Valentines: Hearts in nature
      • Task lamps
      • Valentines: Knottedrush
      • Dinghy Driving
      • John Takes a Hike!
      • Board No. 64: Cassie's Sunburnt October
      • Valentines: Catbird
      • Valentines: Rifle Paper Co
      • Valentines: Bird & Banner
      • Valentines: Woven paper hearts
      • 101 in 1001: February, 2010
      • Board No. 63: Woodsy Lodge
    • [+] January
      • Bright + cheery childrens' bedroom
      • P&P Valentines on Etsy!
      • Pie bar
      • I'm headed to New York!
      • Quilled marriage certificate
      • Go Jane
      • Enter Maribel
      • Fourth&Folded
      • J. Crew complaints no more?
      • Bold and Happy
      • Ikea tent
      • Heart print
      • Short, puffy ones
      • Board No. 62: Pink and Blue and Gold Tinsel
      • Pottery Barn to the rescue!
      • Recipe storage
      • Bedroom Inspiration, v. 341
      • Dress like a cupcake
      • 101 in 1001: January, 2010
  • [+]2009
    • [+] December
      • Merry, Merry Christmas... one day early!
      • P&P Christmas, Day 7: Movies
      • StillMotion
      • Monday, Monday + Winter
      • P&P Christmas, Day 6: Our decor!
      • Lovely Love Shoot
      • P&P Christmas, Day 5: My favorite things
      • High-Boys
      • Board No. 61: Cherry and Sky Holidays
      • Monday, Monday + One Horse Open Sleigh
      • P&P Christmas, Day 4: My Cards, Part I
      • Holly Farrell
      • P&P Christmas, Day 3: Gift Wrap Inspiration
      • More Modcloth
      • The hunt for the bridesmaid dress is on!
      • Board No. 60: Aqua and Green Holidays
      • P&P Christmas, Day 2: Wreaths
      • Wedding by the Sea
      • Board No. 59: Eucalyptus, Cream, and Coral
    • [+] November
      • P&P Christmas: Playlists
      • The 12 Days of Peach & Pearl Christmas!
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • Amy Atlas Thanksgiving
      • NieNie
      • Board No. 5: Blue and Orange Thanksgiving
      • Board No. 58: Hello Navy and Yellow!
      • Board No. 57: Pumped Up Sherbet
      • Board No. 56: Primary Picnic
      • Board No. 55: Nautical Knots
      • Birch bark chivaris
      • Driftwood Ceremony
      • Reader Mail: Sweater Dresses
      • Thanksgiving table
      • Cabbage bouquets
      • Board No. 54: Blooming Navy
      • Monday, Monday + Heart
      • Party time! My dream look
      • Party time! The Menswear Look
      • Party time! The Runner-Up
      • Apple crate side table
      • Love never fails
      • Board No. 53: Gilded Halloween
      • Monday, Monday + Pumpkins
    • [+] October
      • Happy Halloween!
      • DIY Friday: Dictionary Art
      • Alterna-Bedding
      • Dreamy
      • Veggie Week
      • Pinwheels
      • Balsa wood bouquet
      • Falling for fall
      • Wedding weekend brunch: the recipes
      • Wedding weekend brunch
      • Board No. 52: Bond + Baby's Breath
      • Monday, Monday + Leaf Portrait
      • City Guides + Weekend Plans
      • DIY Friday: Painted Furniture
      • Moving Announcements
      • Sources
      • My new favorite...
      • Board No. 51: Blue and Orange for Catherine
      • Monday, Monday + A Writing Desk
      • Mulled Cider
      • Brunch Inspirations
      • My new favorite...
      • Joy + Amy at home
      • Board No. 50: Prizewinning Party
      • Monday, Monday + Vintage Fall
      • DIY Friday: Brunch invitations!
      • Fall Travels: Blue Ridge Parkway
      • My new favorite...
    • [+] September
      • Fall Travels: Serenbe
      • Fall Wreaths
      • Board No. 49: Wild Roses
      • Monday, Monday + White
      • My new favorite...
      • Inkwells
      • Red carpet style
      • Monday, Monday + Hydrangeas
      • DIY Saturday: Upholstered Headboard
      • Flea Market Finds
      • Flea Market
      • Catherine's Blue and Orange Palettes
      • Tips for the newly engaged
      • Sister Peach & Pearl: Engaged!
      • Board No. 48: Bluebell and Buttercream
      • Monday, Monday + A Swing
      • DIY Friday: Monogrammed Tote Bag
      • Haven in Paris
      • Upcycled Birthday Card
      • Anthropologie for a Wedding
      • Tuesday, Tuesday + The Beach
      • DIY Friday: Nautical Porch Garland
      • Audrey
      • Riding boots
      • crewcuts
      • Driftwood Hearts
    • [+] August
      • Board No. 47: A Formal Affair
      • Monday, Monday + RH in Paris
      • Happy Weekend + Chalkboard Paint
      • Summer Travels: Seaside, FL
      • My NEW new favorite...
      • Back to school II
      • Back to school
      • Board No. 46: Alice in Wonderland
      • Happy Weekend + Handmade Soap
      • Bake It Pretty
      • My new favorite...
      • Latte Bowls
      • Paint Chip Placecards
      • Be My Guest
      • Board No. 45: Teal Appeal
      • Monday, Monday + Porches
      • Happy Weekend + Confetti
      • Boston Photographers
      • My new favorite...
      • Julie & Julia
      • Board No. 44: Orange Sherbet
      • Monday, Monday + Flags
      • Happy Weekend + A Tree Party
      • We've Moved!
      • My new favorite...
      • Summer Travels: Island Shower
      • Stars in Residence
      • Summer Travels: Wildflowers
      • Summer Travels: Cherry Republic
      • Board No. 43: White Elephant
      • Monday, Monday + A Castle
    • [+] July
      • Happy Weekend + Cotton Candy
      • Summer Travels: Amish Country, Ohio
      • Board No. 42: Amber in Connecticut
      • Board No. 41: Amber on the Vineyard
      • Board No. 40: Amber in the Caribbean
      • Thursday, Thursday + A Survey
      • Happy Weekend + Sunflowers
      • Uniqlo Neutrals
      • Two Projects
      • Bear with me...
      • Happy Weekend + Bouquet
      • Ikea + victory
      • J. Press
      • Happy Tape
      • Kris + Matt: A Jack + Jill Shower
      • Board No. 39: Hand in Hand at the Edge of the Sand
      • Monday, Monday + I'm Back!
      • Hans & Catherine
      • Monday, Monday + Parents
      • Rubie Green
      • Praia Piquinia
    • [+] June
      • Board No. 38: Cherries Jubilee
      • Monday, Monday + Road Trip
      • Happy Weekend + Polas
      • Have to have Hable
      • My new favorite...
      • Venue Scout: Kirkwood Gardens
      • Board No. 37: One Morning in Maine
      • Monday, Monday + Hats
      • Happy Weekend!
      • Paperwink
      • Kristin & Carter
      • Venue Scout: Church Landing at Mill Falls
      • Board No. 36: Lemon Drop Martini
      • Monday, Monday + Head in the Clouds
      • Happy Weekend + Kitchens
      • Peonies
      • My new favorite...
      • Brea & Tom
      • Felix Doolittle
      • Board No. 35: Romance in the Garden
      • Monday, Monday + Roses
      • Happy Weekend + Wedding Season
      • Currently Coveting...
      • Through Her Eyes
      • Announcements
      • Swayspace
      • Board No. 34: Roman Holiday
    • [+] May
      • Happy Weekend + Retro Glam
      • The Last Emperor
      • Lizzie's Bridal Shower
      • Alice Temperley Camps
      • Board No. 33: Old Glory
      • Monday, Monday + Memorial Day
      • Happy Weekend + 2009
      • My new favorite...
      • Alissa & Ryan
      • Interview Outfit
      • Vintage Engagement Shoot
      • Rosecliff: The Party!
      • Board No. 32: Fiesta Afternoon
      • Monday, Monday + Teacups
      • Happy Weekend + Adirondack Chairs
      • My new favorite...
      • J. Crew Inspiration
      • Rosecliff: The Accessories
      • Board No. 31: Lilacs in Spring
      • Monday, Monday + Lilacs
      • Happy Weekend + Cousins!
      • Plastic
      • Schooled
      • Board No. 30: Bread and Olive Oil
      • The Island
      • Technical Difficulties
      • Happy Weekend + Bookshelves
    • [+] April
      • DIY Swizzle Sticks
      • House Stalking No. 3
      • Rosecliff: The Face
      • Skinny Minnie, v. 2
      • Board No. 29: Cowboy Take Me Away
      • Monday, Monday + the Seashore
      • Happy Weekend + Buds
      • Reader Mail: Rugs + Curtains
      • Framed
      • Ceara & Nate
      • Rosecliff: The Jewelry
      • Board No. 28: Build Me Up, Buttercup
      • Monday, Monday + Bicycles
      • Happy Weekend + Golf
      • Egg Press Sample Sale
      • Today I love...
      • Rosecliff: The Hair
      • Board No. 27: Kid Gloves
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend + Smooch
      • Porsche & Larry
      • DIY Embellished Cards + Lined Envelopes
      • Reader Mail: Leather & Metallic Sandals
      • Rosecliff: The Dress
      • My new favorite...
      • Board No. 26: Opulent Pink and Navy
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend + Radishes
      • Today I Love Silhouettes (In My Hand)
      • Today I Love Silhouettes (In Action)
      • Today I Love Silhouettes (In Print)
    • [+] March
      • Rosecliff: Location
      • Guest post on Rock 'n Roll Bride
      • Board No. 25: Gold Rush
      • Monday, Monday + The Sun
      • Potting Puttering
      • Mine!
      • M & C
      • Down on the farm
      • Board No. 24: Spring Fling
      • Poster print winner!
      • Monday, Monday + Vanities
      • Giveaway Reminder: Win a poster print!
      • Happy Weekend + Cumberland Island
      • My new favorite...
      • Well Wed Cape Cod: Amelia Rose
      • Well Wed Cape Cod
      • Board No. 23: Luck of the Irish
      • Poster Print Giveaway!
      • Monday, Monday + Georgia
      • Happy Weekend!
      • Board No. 22: Sweet Cream
      • Board No. 21: Orange Pop
      • Board No. 20: Rainbow Sherbet
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend!
      • A Banner Day
      • Sedona Bride
      • See Sea Lorraine Dress
      • Custom Inspiration Boards!
      • Board No. 19: Tuscany in Texas
      • Monday, Monday
    • [+] February
      • Happy Weekend!
      • A Shower By Any Other Name...
      • Handle & Spout
      • My new favorite...
      • Board No. 18: Classic Summer Navy
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend!
      • Please, Mr. Postman
      • Today I Love...
      • From Me to Yoo
      • Short Dress Brides
      • Board No. 17: St. Valentine's
      • Monday, Monday
      • Bow Wow
      • Olive You
      • My new favorite...
      • DIY Daisy Wreath
      • Allison & Mark
      • Board No. 16: Blackberry Black Tie
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend + A Truck Portrait
      • Skinny Minnie
      • Valentine's Day Chocolate DIY
      • Chocolate Raspberry Tea Cakes
      • Megan & Randy
      • Board No. 15: Cream and Sugar, Please
    • [+] January
      • Happy Weekend!
      • My new favorite...
      • DIY Hair Flower
      • Casablanca
      • Vote For Me!
      • Board No. 14: Style Me Pretty Vineyard
      • Monday, Monday
      • Happy Weekend!
      • Vines, Light Bulbs, and Cardboard: Oh My!
      • DIY Wine Charms
      • Mr. and Mrs. Coconut
      • Board No. 13: Dainty Brunch
      • Happy Weekend + Lemonade
      • House of Telsa
      • Soft Neutrals
      • Organizing Bathroom Drawers
      • Board No. 12: Daisy Chain
      • Happy Weekend!
      • My new favorite...
      • Creativity Headquarters
      • My new favorite...
      • Board No. 11: Willow Ware
      • Happy Weekend + Ruffles
      • The 101 in 1001 Book
      • 101 in 1001
  • [+]2008
    • [+] December
      • A Night at the Ball
      • Martha's Butterscotch-Pecan Cake
      • DIY Bell Chandelier
      • Board No. 10: Pop the Bubbly!
      • Happy Christmas Eve!
      • Board #9: Merry, Merry Christmas
      • Happy Weekend!
      • Last Minute Gift Idea!
      • Molten Chocolate Babycakes
      • Going to the Ballet
      • Board #8: Elegant Evergreens
      • Happy Friday!
      • Put your stamp on it
      • Inspiration Board #7: Blue Christmas
      • Happy Friday!
      • Beach Dwelling
      • Ruffle Cake Stand
      • This Just In...
      • Displaying Holiday Cards
      • Inspiration Board #6: Pinecones and Chocolate
    • [+] November
      • Happy Thanksgiving!
      • My new favorite...
      • A Little Southern Wedding Love
      • Inspiration Board #5: Blue and Orange Thanksgiving
      • Have a sweet Friday!
      • S'mores Y'all
      • A Dreamy 99 Cents
      • It's almost 2009!
      • Happy Friday!
      • My new favorite...
      • Etiquette Dinner
      • Stone Wall Votives
      • Happy Weekend + A French Tree House
      • Inspiration Board #4: Teal, Yellow, and Black
      • Inspiration Board #3: Punch, Blush, and Green
      • Blue Hill Reserve
      • Vote!
      • Patrick Dougherty
    • [+] October
      • Going, Going, Gone
      • My new favorite...
      • Jenna Lyons House Tour
      • Inspiration Board #2: Green Apples
      • Pink and green Bird Ornament Set in the shop!
      • New Garland Cards in the shop!
      • Oh, My Deer!
      • Just Peachy
      • Just married?
      • Lazy Sunday
      • New Cupcake Cards in the shop!
      • Butterfly Weekend
      • House Stalking #2
      • The Duchess = Eye Candy
      • Have a lovely weekend!
      • Fall Fashion: Current J. Crew Favorites
      • I'm a finalist!
    • [+] September
      • Fall Fashion: J. Crew
      • Cool Hand Luke
      • Have a relaxing weekend!
      • That's what she said...

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